Wetlands & Preserves
St. Lucie West is home to a network of preserved natural areas and wetlands that are vital to the community’s environmental health and water management system. These green spaces not only enhance the natural beauty of our neighborhoods but also serve an important purpose in managing stormwater. Wetlands act as natural filters—capturing rainwater, trapping sediments, and removing nutrients before the water flows into canals and retention ponds. They also help reduce flooding by absorbing excess rainfall during tropical storms and hurricanes.
Our SLWSD Public Works Department carefully manages these areas to ensure they remain healthy and functional. A major part of this work involves the removal of invasive and exotic plant species such as Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, and cattail overgrowth. These plants can spread quickly and crowd out native vegetation, altering the natural balance of the wetland ecosystem. The Public Works team performs routine inspections, trimming, and selective clearing to maintain the natural diversity and stormwater flow capacity of these lands.
Our local preserves and wetlands support a wide variety of native wildlife. Residents may occasionally spot great blue herons, snowy egrets, white ibises, ospreys, anhingas, and wood storks hunting in the shallow waters. Turtles, fish, and frogs thrive in the ponds and marshy areas, while raccoons, otters, and wading birds depend on these habitats for food and shelter. During the cooler months, the wetlands also host migratory birds traveling along the Atlantic Flyway—such as swallow-tailed kites, sandhill cranes, pied-billed grebes, blue-winged teals, lesser scaups, and various species of warblers. These birds rely on the wetlands as seasonal feeding and resting grounds during their long migrations.
Residents can help protect and preserve these natural spaces by keeping them clean and undisturbed. Please do not use preserves or wetland edges for dumping, yard debris, or storage of materials. Trash and discarded items can pollute the water, attract pests, and harm wildlife. Even lawn clippings and garden waste can introduce unwanted nutrients or invasive seeds. By respecting these natural areas, residents play a direct role in keeping our local environment healthy and ensuring our stormwater management system continues to function properly.
Together, through responsible maintenance and community awareness, we can preserve the natural balance that makes St. Lucie West a beautiful and sustainable place to live.
If you witness anyone tampering with our wetlands and preserves (throwing trash, cutting trees, storing construction material in it, etc), please report it to our Public Works Department. Contact information can be found under our Contact Us page.